Reinforced track crossing



Patented June 21, 1938 UNETED STATES REINFORCED TRACK CROSSING Jean Francois Eugene Grand, Paris, and Ren Lucien Grand, Livry-Gargan, France Application June 10,

1936, Serial No. 84,582

In France June 19, 1935 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to track crossings and more particularly pertains to means for reinforcing the rails forming the crossing.

In ordinary track crossings, the points or noses of the crossings are not directly connected together, but only in an indirect manner through the medium of stay members connecting them to the two branches of the bent rail on which the vehicle wheels run. It results therefrom that displacements and changes of level occur which have not only for inconveniences to increase the shocks when the vehicle wheels pass over the rails, to accentuate the wear of the running surfaces or treads of the rails, to produce a hammering of the assemblies, to dislocate them and to thus rapidly put the apparatus out of use, but also to risk of causing derailments and serious accidents.

The present invention is adapted to avoid these inconveniences by preventing any displacement of the points or noses of the crossing relatively to each other and relatively to the bent rail supporting the wheels.

For that purpose, the new track crossing is characterized by the fact that the twopoints or noses of the crossing are formed by one and the same rail, and that the two counterpoints are formed by another rail, these tworails being rendered rigid together and with the outer bent rail.

Moreover, the point rail is also rigid with the inner guard rail, so that the entire crossing constitutes a single unit.

The invention is moreover characterized by 35 the fact that the counterpoint rail is shaped in a special manner, as well as the outer bent rail, so that the point rail forms the outer running surface or tread opposite the interval between the two points or noses.

Finally, in the case of flange rails, the invention is further characterized by the fact that the flanges are cut out and fitted into each other, so that the whole of the members or elements of the crossing forms a one piece system.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, a form of construction of the new crossing is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, given by way of example only and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a crossing branch.

Fig. 2 is another plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the central portion of the device.

Fig. 3 is an underside plan view.

Figs. 4 to '7 are cross sections made respectively along lines 4-4, 5-5, 66, and 11 of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawing, the crossing is constituted by four assembled rails a, b, c, d.

The outer rail a is bent in the median plane X X. It presents two other bends at e and 6 The rail head is slightly cut away laterally at le on a. certain length in the bent portion.

The inner rail 1), constituting a guard rail, is simply bent in the plane X X. This rail can be provided, in the known manner, with a cheek member 19 for improving the guiding action.

The rail 0 forms the points or noses g of the crossing. For this purpose a portion of the rail head is cut away and the lateral edges of the head are shaped to provide the faces 1 the planes of which are oblique to the longitudinal axis of the rail before bending. The opposite lateral faces Z of the rail head also form plane surfaces which are oblique to the longitudinal axis of the rail before bending but parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail after bending. The web h and the flange i subsist and connect the two points or noses g together. In the portions where the rail is thus cut away, it presents a series of bends c c c 0 which are clearly shown on Fig. 2.

The rail 01 forms the two counter-points 7'. For that purpose, the head of the rail is cut according to oblique planes k and 7c and the rail (1 fits against the sides or flanks of the point rail. The head of the rail is dispensed with on a certain length and subsists in the central portion where it is slightly cut away on one side at d; this rail is counter-bent so as to exactly fit in the rail a.

The four rails constituting the crossing are assembled together by bolts, rivets, stay members, or any other suitable means, particularly oxyacetylene welding or electric welding. These connection means can be combined for instance by welding the faces in contact and by securing the whole by means of bolts.

Fig. 3 shows how the rail flanges can be designed for facilitating the assemblage. Owing to the fact that the elements are bent and can thus fit in each other, the members can be easily rendered absolutely rigid with each other. None of the elements can longitudinally creep relatively to the others. The securing bolts have only to support tension stresses, and not shearing stresses.

Fig. 2 clearly shows the two gaps m and n which intersect and which are adapted to permit the passage of the flanges of the vehicle wheels. The running surfaces or treads provided, by the assemblage, for the rims of the wheels present the greatest possible continuity.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the two points or noses of the crossing are con- 7 nected together by the web and the flange of'the rail in which they are formed, and, moreover, they are rendered rigid together by the rail of the counter-points d. By this same rail they are rendered rigid with the outer rail a. They are therefore rendered rigid both longitudinally and laterally. It results therefrom that the flexure stresses and shocks which ordinarily tend to dislocate the apparatus are considerably reduced, that the wear of the running surfaces or treads is attenuated, and that, consequently, the security against possibility of rupture of all the elements constituting the crossing is considerably increased.

The arrangements described above are given by way of example only. All the detailsof construction, shapes, dimensions and materials used can be modified according tocircumstances Without departing thereby from the scope of themesent invention.

We claim:

1. In a track crossing for corresponding outer rails, a vfirst rail bent to the crossing angle forming the outer bend for the crossing, a second rail also bent to the crossing angle forming the inner bend of the crossing, said second rail having cut out portions forming two points of the crossing in the second rail when said first and second rails are positioned, a third continuous rail arranged lengthwise of the crossing and interposed between the first rail and the second rail and having out out portions forming a counter-point for each of said points, a fourth rail forming an inner. counter-rail, and means, for rendering the rail forming the pointsand' the rail forming the counter-points rigid with each other.

2. In a track crossing for corresponding outer rails, a first rail bent to the crossing angle forming the outer bend of the crossing, a second rail also bent to the crossing angle forming the inner bend of the crossing, said second rail having tapered portions providing two points in the sec- 0nd rail when said first and second rails are positioned, a third rail continuous lengthwise of the crossing and interposed between the first rail and the second rail, said third rail having cut portions forming counter-points for each of said points, a fourth rail forming an inner counterrail, and means for rendering the rail forming the counter-points rigid with the rail forming the points and rigid with the rail forming the outer bend.

3. In a track crossing for corresponding outer rails, a first rail bent to the crossing angle forming the outer bend of the crossing, a second rail also bent to the crossing angle forming the inner bend of the crossing, said second rail having portions thereof cut away to provide two points of the crossing in the second rail when said first and secondrails are positioned, a third rail continuous lengthwise of the crossing and interposed between the first rail and the second rail, said third rail having portions thereof cut away to provide a counter-point for each of said points, said third rail being counter-bent so as to fit the first rail forming the outer bend, and means for rigidly securing the rail forming the points and the rail forming the counter-points together.

4. In a track crossing for corresponding outer rails, a first rail bent to the crossing angle forming the outer bend of the crossing, a second rail also bent to the crossing angle forming the inner bend of the crossing, two points of the crossing formed in the second rail, a third rail continuous lengthwise of the crossing and interposed between the first rail and the second rail and forming a counter-point for each of said points, portions of the heads of the first and third rails being cut away between the points of the crossing, a fourth rail forming an inner counter-rail, means for rigidly securing the rail forming the points to the rail forming the counter-points, and the flanges of said rails being cut out so as to fit into each other and thus form a single unit.

JEAN FRANCOIS EUGENE GRAND. RENE LUCIEN GRAND. 

